Part 1 Canadian BASS Elite Series Pro Jon Bondy Pre Tournament Coverage Toyota Texas Bass Classic April 13-15/07 By: Wil Wegman
Pre Tournament Coverage | The Evening Before | Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3

Jon Bondy of Windsor Ontario is a rare breed here in Canada. He is a full time fisherman, who at 34 years of age has never had a full time job other than fishing. He has competed in tournaments since he was 16 years of age and has guided full time for 13 years. Jon is recognized as one of the premier full time multi-species fishing guides in the Windsor-Detroit area and is fully licensed to fish both U.S. and Canadian waters.  Logging over 200 days every year on the water from March to December he is a busy guide who has clients from as far away as Japan.

As his prowess with a rod and reel grows Jon finds himself fishing bigger and bigger tournaments – often traveling south of the border to compete in some of the larger events. In 2005 while only fishing five major events Jon secured two ‘Top 10’ finishes in Bassmaster tournaments, including one second place spot. In 2006, Jon completed his rookie season on the Bassmaster Elite series. This is the premier professional circuit in North America.  His best 2006 finish was on Table Rock Lake, Mo where he took 5th place overall. He's won over $117,000 during the last two seasons and qualified last year to fish the 2007 Bassmasters Elite Series. Jon is the only Canadian pro who qualified for this series!

In 2007 Jon will focus almost exclusively on fishing the Bassmaster Elite Series … with one notable exception – the upcoming $ 1 million Toyota Texas Bass Classic. I caught up with Jon over the Easter Break as he was preparing for the official prefish on Lake Fork for a quick interview before he started. Even better perhaps is that he offered to try and keep me updated as the event unfolded so I will also try and keep avid Canadian bass tournament fans updated through this Big Fat Bass website. But before you read what Jon has to say here is some general information about this incredible tournament. 

Toyota Texas Bass Classic Tournament

The Toyota Texas Bass Classic, a one million dollar professional bass tournament, will be held April 9 – 15 at Lake Fork in East Texas. With a new and unique format for a bass fishing tournament and a first place prize of $250,000, the Toyota Texas Bass Classic has attracted a top-level field of professional anglers.  The format will combine the conservation aspects of Lake Fork's slot limits with the competitiveness of a Professional Anglers Association (PAA) tournament. 

"Our goal for this tournament is to create a premier fishing event that will support Texas Parks and Wildlife's youth fishing and outreach programs. It is also a tremendous way to celebrate Lake Fork's 25th anniversary," said Dan Friedkin, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) commissioner who worked with Commissioner Donato Ramos to create the concept of the tournament.

The 160 contestants, all of whom are qualified members of the PAA, will be arranged in four-man teams for the tournament's first two days on Friday April 20th and Saturday the 21st, with five of those teams qualifying for the finals on the tournament's third and final day Sunday April 22nd.  The four-man teams will consist of two pairs of anglers, one pair fishing in one boat for four hours each morning and the other pair in the afternoon. 
                                               
Toyota Texas Bass Classic Tournament Format

With 160 entries, 40 boats will be actively fishing on the lake in the morning and again in the afternoon.  As the morning competitors return to the dock, they will put their heads together with the second pair in strategy sessions to share tips and info on what they have learned about the lake and conditions that morning, and where the afternoon pair might be more successful.

"This tournament is different and is going to be a lot of fun for the contestants because it puts a premium on teamwork," said Gary Klein, chairman of the tournament committee and one of the leading competitors on the tournament circuit.  "It is attracting top level professionals to compete on Lake Fork, one of the best bass lakes in the U.S., and will take advantage of the slot limits to demonstrate the depth and diversity of the lake's bass population."

In addition to the cash prizes, the angler who catches the biggest bass of the tournament will receive a 2007 Toyota Tundra.  If the state record is surpassed, the angler will also win $100,000 and a new boat. Unlike most professional bass tournaments, contestants will not be required to pay an entry fee

In the Toyota Texas Bass Classic, all fish caught above 14 inches will be weighed and the top five caught each day credited to each angler.  Fish falling within the slot limit will be weighed in the boat by a certified and independent observer, then returned to the lake immediately.  Contestants will be allowed to keep one fish larger than 24 inches, which will be weighed at the dockside weigh-in scales, then turned over to TPWD for proper handling.

TPWD will have two large aquariums at the weigh-in, as well as two large tanker trucks, for use if a ShareLunker bass -- normally a fish weighing more than 13 pounds -- is caught.

"Normally, tournaments on slot limit lakes turn into large-fish competitions because the slot limit minimizes for all practical purposes the effect of entering multiple fish," said Gene Ellison of the Professional Anglers Association. "In this tournament, having the independent certified observer on each boat and weighing the fish in the boat means that each contestant will be able to have five fish of various sizes count towards their competitive total."
According to Phil Durocher, head of TPWD Inland Fisheries, "This tournament will showcase the excellent fishing at Lake Fork that has resulted from innovative fisheries management strategies that have been strongly supported by our friends at the Sabine River Authority. Anglers who have fished the waters of Lake Fork have been enjoying the results of this partnership for years.”

The tournament's format is designed to appeal to spectators, and includes kids activities, live music and a Jumbotron showing continuous action to the audience.  Weigh-ins morning and afternoon will assure high levels of activity during the day.  While half of the anglers are on the water fishing, the other flight of anglers on shore will be giving clinics, signing autographs and interacting with the public.

The Toyota Texas Bass Classic will have an official observer assigned to each competing boat who will record each fish caught. Some of these observers are Conservation Directors for the various BASS Federation Nations.  The observer on each boat will record the weight of the five largest fish for each angler, then return the fish to the lake immediately.  Each angler can retain one fish per day that exceeds 24 inches in length, for weigh-in at the official scales dockside.  This innovative new method for immediate certified weighing of fish on board makes it practical to have major fishing tournaments on slot limit lakes.

The Toyota Texas Bass Classic is sanctioned by the PAA with technical assistance and support from TPW Inland Fisheries Division.  Title sponsor for the event is Toyota, presenting sponsor is Enterprise Rent-A-Car and the City of Lindale is the official host city.  Entertainment for the tournament will include Clay Walker, Tracy Lawrence, Danielle Peck, Zona Jones, Kacey Musgraves and Todd Fritsch.

Jon Bondy is the only Canadian Professional Angler fishing this event and is excited about his chances.

Pre-Tournament Interview With Jon Bondy

Wil: What is your gameplan going into the event Jon?  This tournament is so different than anything we are used to that it must offer a real challenge to even pro's like you?

Jon: This lake is so full of timber, that whatever patterns come together, they'll likely revolve around the wood. It's a dangerous lake to navigate too. It is so full of giant bass. The big list in Texas is the top 50 bass of all time in the state. This lake has produced about 40 of the top 50. I held a 13 1/4lb monster when I was here a month ago that someone else caught.

Wil: Just how does the four man team format work? I guess there will be a lot of communication and sharing between team members re effective patterns etc? Will this occur mostly in pre-fish you think? What about during the event?  This is all very different eh?

Jon: The team captain decides who fishes with who, and two of the anglers fish in the morning, and come in for lunch and to talk to the two other guys. Then in the afternoon, the second guys go out. While on shore, the other pros will be doing seminars and talking with the public. It doesn't help the team if one pro doesn't work well with others, and wants to be the hero. The more we help each other, the better we do. The team format is designed to be good for TV.

Wil: Everyone knows Denny - your team captain - but what about the other two?  What do you think your team's chances are based on each person's strengths?

Jon: Denny is a legend, no doubt. The other two guys, Matt Herron and Sam Swett fish the FLW Tour, and I've only met Matt. Denny has called a team meeting for Monday afternoon to discuss strategies, who fishes with who, etc. At one event this year, Denny had a bag of about 25lbs at the weigh in, and I jokingly told him he better step it up for Lake Fork. He laughed pretty good.

Wil: How do you think your prior experience and success on Lake Fork will help you at this event? What type of patterns and techniques do you predict will be successful?

Jon: I fished here about a month ago, and while I didn't get any giants, the highlight was when I caught a 7-14, a 7-1, and a 7-3 in five casts on a point with a 1/2oz black and blue jig. I guess I'll poke around in that area first, and go from there. The water has come up a foot or two from recent rain, so it's a bit muddy. Not too sure if the sight fishing will play a big part, as the full moon was a week ago, and the big ones might have moved on. The locals told me I should be able to catch them any way I want by mid April.

Wil: What is the hype for this event like so far down there? Are the pros looking forward to it?  What about the tournament industry – word has it major circuits are very curious to see how this unique event plays out? Your views?

Jon: The pros are really looking forward to this event. It's been a long time coming, as the PAA has been in the planning stages for years. This is the real deal. There is no middleman anymore, all the cash goes to us. Even the big bass award is a $40,000 Toyota Tundra. First place is $250,000 split between the 4 man team. Last place is $8000. There are 40 teams in this event so those are pretty good odds. I'll make at least $2,000. There is a ton of hype here. There are billboards for 50 miles in every direction. They are expecting 25,000 fans. It will be on CBS Sports on Mothers Day for an hour, so watch for it!

Jon’s sponsors include:  Moose Tracks Ice Cream, Mercury Marine, Champion Boats, Pflueger, D & R Sports Centre and All Star Graphite Rods.

Jon Bondy’s Wrapped Boat featuring Moose Tracks ice Cream

Jon’s wrap sponsor is MooseTracks Ice Cream Moosetracks is a trademarked ice cream flavor that is available in over 125 brands, including Sobey’s in Canada. In some markets it actually outsells vanilla. Check out www.moosetracks.com

Jon might be the only Canadian fishing … but another big name in the sport will also play a major role in the Toyota Texas Bass Classic …

The tournament MC’s will be none other than Canada’s Dave Mercer of Facts of Fishing fame and Fish Fishburne. Fish, who is well known for hosting his TV show Go Fish in the late 1990's, as well as more than 8 years as a fixture on the microphone of the Bassmasters Classic and both BASS/ESPN TV and radio broadcasting was pleased to get the call.

"I'm really looking forward to it," he said. Not just for the opportunity to entertain, the former touring pro sees much the future of tournament bass fishing riding at Lake Fork, April 13-15.

"Bottom line is," he said, "here is a new opportunity (for the sport.) And an opportunity like this in this industry does not come along very often. Who knows where this can go."

Mercer, also known as Canada's fishing funnyman, likewise, is both a skilled angler and entertainer who hosts the hugely popular Canadian television series, Dave Mercer's Facts of Fishing (www.factsoffishing.com) and also produces a series of exciting DVD's.

He too, recognizes the potential of such a unique competition. "I believe the Toyota Texas Bass Classic will truly be remembered as an event that changed the competitive sport fishing industry."

Being on stage with such an array of talent is also significant in Mercer's career. "To emcee the Toyota Texas Bass Classic is something I have been looking forward to for a long time," he said. "Then, once I found out that my co-emcee would be Fish Fishburne, it was a dream come true."

Said Ellison, "We really needed the kind of live hosts that connect with the audience. We think we have hit the jackpot with Fish Fishburne and Dave Mercer involved in this huge event."

The ToyotaTexas Bass Classic presented by Enterprise Rent-A-Car, is the richest no-entry fee tournament in history. It will be an industry-leading professional bass fishing tournament, with the world's best professional anglers competing for an unprecedented purse of $1 Million Dollars. This ground-breaking event will be nationally televised on CBS and broadcast live-to-tape on Versus (formerly Outdoor Life Network) evenings following tournament competition. The ToyotaTexas Bass Classic presented by Enterprise Rent-A-Car has an expected attendance of 25,000 people

The following are the teams and team members for the TTBC: (team captains in bold print)